Tailpiece for stringed musical instruments

ABSTRACT

A tailpiece for stringed instruments, particularly violins, violas, or cellos, which will permit the tuning of the strings behind the bridge of the instrument consisting of a tailpiece which is mounted on the instrument without requiring any modification of the instrument which tailpiece is provided with a movable string contacting fret for each string such that the distance from the string bridge to the contacting fret may be tuned to the desire of the player.

United States Patent Tartaglia 451 Sept. 5, 1972 TAILPIECE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Inventor: John Tartaglia, 4207 Pleasant Ave.

S., Minneapolis, Minn. S5409 Filed: Feb. 8, 1971 Appl. No.: 113,329

US. Cl ..84/302, 84/312 Int. Cl. ..Gl0d 3/l2 Field of Search ..84/ 274, 275, 297, 302, 312

References Cited I UNITED STATES PATEN'IS 5/1969 Richards ..84/312 X 7/ 1963 Havivi et a1 ..84/302 1,768,706 7/1930 Miller ..84/471 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Lawrence R. Franklin AttorneyJarnes R. Cwayna [571 Answer A tailpiece for stringed instruments, particularly violins, violas, or'cellos, which will permit the tuning of the strings behind the bridge of the instrument con- 3Claims,6DrawingFigures TAILPIECE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS The conventional tailpiece for a stringed instrument allows only a fixed pitch of those portions of the string from the bridge to the tailpiece. This is normally an arbitrary pitch determined by the length of the tailpiece. Though these short lengths of strings are normally not played, it is generally agreed that the pitch of these unused lengths behind the bridge actually modify the quality and clarity of the notes that are produced from the used portions of the strings from the bridge forward.

Naturally each musician wants to achieve the maximum performance from his instrument and the applicant has found that the use of his tailpiece improves the consistency of timbre for the instrument and thus improves the overall tonal quality of the instrument to which it is applied.

An important consideration in developing this particular tailpiece is the means forattaching the same to the instrument. No musician having either a valuable instrument, for an example a product of the old masters, or one that has value only to himself would not allow any changes in its construction or shape and therefore applicants tailpiece'is designed to utilize the normally provided tailgut to provide the only attachment means. The tailpiece then is mounted as any other traditional tailpiece.

The concept employed in applicants tailpiece is to provide a moveable fret for each string, underlying the individual strings, and by moving the same forwardly or rearwardly the tension of the length of the string behind the bridge is changed.

In a modified form of the invention applicant provides a tailpiece in which the lengths of string behind the bridge are not of equal lengths. This particular arrangement allows an even longer extension of string on the bass side with a corresponding shorter length on the acute side thus extending the range of pitches that can be obtained by positioning of the frets.

It is therefore an object of applicants invention to provide a tailpiece for stringed musical instruments which permits adjustment of the pitch of the strings behind the bridge of the instrument. a

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide a tailpiece for stringed musical instruments mountable on the instrument without requiring any alteration thereof and by using the tailgut provided thereon.

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide a tailpiece for stringed musical instruments having a fret receiving slot therein for each string with a movable fret received in the slot such that the tension of each string behind the bridge may be adjusted to thereby modify the pitch of the strings behind the bridge.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan of a portion of a violin having a tailpiece embodying the concepts of applicants invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation of applicants tailpiece mounted on a violin;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a tailpiece embodying applicants first form of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross section taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the modified form of the tailpiece invention.

In accordance with the accompanying drawings, applicants tailpiece is generally designated 10 and is illustrated mounted on a violin V in the normal position for mounting such a tailpiece 10 by utilizing the tailgut T which is looped around the tailpiece mounting button C. The various strings are designated respectively G, D, A and E with the bridge being designated B.

It should be noted that the E string in the particular drawings appears as a gut string or at least a steel string without any tailpiece adjustment device that is often employed with a steel string. It should be stated that applicants tailpiece with the adjustments provided thereon is equally useable if such a steel string adjuster is utilized.

The tailpiece 10, in the first form includes an attachment end 11 to which the tailgut T is connected and extends longitudinally therefrom to the string attachment end 12. The particular shape, tapering outwardly from the connecting end 11, obviously is provided for proper string spacing.

Intermediate the respective ends, 11, 12, a transversely extending ridge 13 is provided anddirectly rearward of such ridge 13 a plurality of circular apertures 14 are provided which apertures terminate in forwardly directed slots 15. In stringing the instrument the strings are provided with an enlarged end to pass through the apertures 14 and thereafter move into the slotted areas 15. The strings then pass over the ridge l3 and forwardly towards the bridge.

As illustrated in the drawings when the strings are tensioned the tailpiece 10 only contacts the instrument at the attachment end 1 1 thereof and the foremost end 18 of the tailpiece 10 is elevated above the body of the instrument. It is essential that this tailpiece does not contact the surface of the instrument and this is true in all of the fine instruments such as violins, violas, chellos and the like.

Immediately forward of theridge l3 and underlying each of the strings are a plurality of longitudinally, forwardly extending slots 17. A single numeral designation is used for each of the slots and the frets contained therein as they are identical in their shapes and their useage. These slots 17 extend forwardly to terminate at a closed end adjacent for foremost end 18 of the tailpiece 10. In this first form of the invention it should be noted that the foremost end 18, the ridge 17 and the apertures and slots 14, 15 are all parallel to the bridge B which therefore demands that the strings utilized be of the same length. Also it should be obvious that the strings will normally rest on the upper surface of the ridge l3 and their effective pitch length is identical being that length from bridge B to ridge 13.

Arranged within each of the slots 17 is a moveable fret 19. The frets 19 include, in the form shown, an upper, string contacting portion 19a arranged to slide on the upper surface of the tailpiece adjacent the slots 17, a downwardly extending slot engaging element 19b arranged to extend into the slot 17 and a capturing element 190 connected to the lower end of the slot engaging element 19b. This combination in this particular form presents an exaggerated I configuration and serves to definitely lock the fret 19 into the slot area. Obviously in assembling this fret it is necessary to connect either the string contacting portion 19a or the capturing element 190 after insertion of the fret 19 into the slot 17 and applicant has found that the capturing element 19c is not necessary for operation of the device as the string pressure will maintain the same in the slot 17 after insertion and string tightening. The capturing technique does, however, insure against loss of the frets when the strings are not tight or during shipping.

The function of the device and particularly the frets, should be obvious as the frets 19 obviously are free to be slid in the slots 17 and the length of the string will now be determined by the length of the string from the bridge B to the position of the fret 19 rather than back to the ridge 13. .v

The particular longitudinal shapes of the tailpiece are best illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5 and this shape is conventional to standard tailpieces. Again the comparison to the standard, now available tailpiece should be obvious to one skilled in the art.

In use, the tuning established by the positioning of one of the frets l9 presupposes a relative positioning of the other three frets. As an example, if an improved response of the instrument is obtained with the lower string of the instrument being obtained when the short length of string is pitched a fourth higher than the pitch of the open string, then the other frets should be positioned to obtain the same relationship of pitch. Following this relationship if the pitch of the open strings, this being the string forward of the bridge, is pitched respectively at G, D, A and E then the short lengths could be respectively be pitched at C, G, D and A. This particular suggestion only represents a possible pitching arrangement as various instruments may respond differently and the players taste and ear may demand a different but available setting.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 6. In this particular form of the invention, the tailpiece is generally designated and the tailpiece utilizes many of the same design features as employed in the first form. The tailpiece in this form includes an attachment end 21 tapering upwardly to a string receiving end 22 which string receiving end 22 is not parallel to the bridge but is rather diagonally oriented thereto. Intermediate the attachment end 21 and the string receiving end 22 is a ridge 23 with a plurality of apertures 24 terminating in string attachment slots 25 directly therebehind. These apertures 24 and slots 25 perform the same function as the apertures and slots of the first form. Immediately forward of the ridge 23 are a plurality of slots 26 having closed ends 26a terminating adjacent the ultimate end 224 of the string receiving end 22. It should be noted that the apertures 24 and slots 25, ridge 23 and the slots 26 are all oriented in accordance with the forward end 22a of the tailpiece 20. In this particular arrangement it should be obvious that the length of the strings from the bridge to the ridge 23 do not have to be of thesame length and rather the lowest string (G) will have the longest length when the fret is not considered nor used. The primary advantage of this p trticular form of the invention is that it allows an even onger extension of string on the bass side with a corresponding shorter length on the acute side thus extending the range of pitches that can be obtained by positioning of the frets.

Frets 27 are again arranged in the slots 26 and are moveable therein to permit adjustment of the string tension and the pitch of the string behind the bridge.

With applicants tailpiece an ease of behind the bridge pitch adjustment is easily obtained and in use the applicant has found that the quality of the tone produced by the patricular instrument is substantially improved.

It should be obvious that applicant has provided a new unique tailpiecefor stringed instruments which allows a tuning flexibility unobtainable with the standard unadjustable tailpieces.

What I claim is:

1. An improvement in tailpieces for stringed instruments to permit tuning of the strings behind the bridge, including;

a. a tailgut attachment end for attaching one end of the tailpiece to the instrument;

b. string attachment means on the other end of the tailpiece; the tailpiece being arranged and constructed such that the tailpiece and string attachment end is elevated above the instrument when the strings are attached and tensioned;

. means forward of the string attachment means arranged to extend above the surface of the tailpiece and contact the strings; and,

. means for moving said contacting means forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the bridge and thereby vary the effective length of the string from said contacting means to the bridge.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said means for moving said string contacting means includes a plurality of longitudinally extending slot means arranged respectively below each of the strings, said string contacting means being slidably received in said slots.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 and said string contacting means including a moveable fret member having a portion thereof arranged above the surface of the tailpiece and a second portion thereof arranged within said slot. 

1. An improvement in tailpieces for stringed instruments to permit tUning of the strings behind the bridge, including; a. a tailgut attachment end for attaching one end of the tailpiece to the instrument; b. string attachment means on the other end of the tailpiece; c. the tailpiece being arranged and constructed such that the tailpiece and string attachment end is elevated above the instrument when the strings are attached and tensioned; d. means forward of the string attachment means arranged to extend above the surface of the tailpiece and contact the strings; and, e. means for moving said contacting means forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the bridge and thereby vary the effective length of the string from said contacting means to the bridge.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said means for moving said string contacting means includes a plurality of longitudinally extending slot means arranged respectively below each of the strings, said string contacting means being slidably received in said slots.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 2 and said string contacting means including a moveable fret member having a portion thereof arranged above the surface of the tailpiece and a second portion thereof arranged within said slot. 